(Click for a larger view}

Rollaway Rapids - Petawawa River
from Loon Island Outdoors

Planning Planning Planning

Well we are well under way getting ready for our 2008 trip into the park. WE have 7 of our group of 8 confirmed for the time. It gets harder every year with jobs and life getting in the way.
AS you probably know, we have to wait until 5 months ahead of time to book the area we will go into. That sets booking date at around the first of March. I guess I will reserve the canoes around that time also. WE will book those through Algonquin Portage this year because of there location.
We are still trying to decide between having the outfitter do the shuttle or doing it ourselves. Here are Algonquin Portages prices;

Prices

Destination	2 people and gear	Additional Fee per person
Achray	$80.00	$10.00
Lake Traverse	$130.00	$15.00
Brent	$380.00	$25.00
Kiosk	$395.00	$25.00
Brigham Lake	$65.00	$10.00
Squirrel Rapids	$50.00	$10.00
Opeongo Lake	$250.00	$25.00
Pembroke Bus Station	$25.00	$10.00

Its kind of expensive to pay them, but it WILL save lots of time. It looks like a paid trip to Traverse would cost 8 guys about $27.50 each. Not too bad. Anyone out there with tips for us.....it would be appreciated.
Onward!!!!

From algonquinblog.wordpress.com/

Thoughts for the upcoming season.

29 01 2008

I’ve noticed lately that the interior of Algonquin Park has become the “in” place for the city slickers. While I have nothing wrong with people exploring and enjoying the park, I do have a problem with people destroying the parks natural beauty. What I mean is that I’m sick of people throwing their garbage on the portages, people bringing cans and bottles into the interior and leaving them there for others to clean up, people driving everywhere within a campsite when you can bike or walk. The threat on Algonquin is all too real and we need to protect it. We as the campers are as much responsible as the park staff and conservation officers. There are simple things that we all can do to keep the park beautiful.

1. Keep your campsite clean and make sure it’s clean before you leave.
2. Only bring stuff that is completely bio-degradable and good for the environment.
3. Foil does not burn…..bring it out with you in some places it’s recyclable
4. Freeze dried foods might not taste the best but there is less waste with them and its quick to prepare.
5. Stay on the marked portage. Don’t go off course to get around someone. We’ll all get there in our own time.
6. Can’s and bottles are not allowed in the interior so DON’T BRING THEM! There are tetra packs available now for wines. Pour your wine/beer into a plastic container.
7. If you bring food like steak or another kind of meat please make sure that your grill and cooking area is clean. The bears do not need people food…it really isn’t good for them.
8. Speaking of wildlife…..leave it alone. If you see an abandoned beaver lodge, dam or even turtles on a log leave them be. You can ruin an animals natural habitat.
9. Use your common sense. If you think it might hurt something then don’t do it. DON’T CUT DOWN TREES FOR FIREWOOD. USE WOOD ON THE FOREST FLOOR THAT IS DEAD!!!!

As you go on your way today remember that Algonquin Park has almost been destroyed before by wildfires and logging…..let’s not let it be destroyed by us! I love that park and I want my children to love it too!

~Enjoy your Trip!

This years Interior Trip

Our group of 8 is looking at the Petawawa River for our trip this August.

has anyone done this one? Comments please!

tentative Schedule

Day one - Get transportation from the outfitters to Access point #23. Paddling - 10K. No portages. Camp on Lake Travers. Easy day (except for the travel time)

Day two - 8K paddling. Portages 315, 165, 130, 425, 1580*
*We will stay on the 1580 portage. There are 2 site to choose from. Camp on Crooked Chute Rapids.
Total Portages = 1825 (if we do half the 1580)

Day three - 10K Paddling. Portages 120, 820, 275, 250, 135, 160, 2305*
*We will stay on the 2305 portage. There are 2 sites available. Camp on Schooner Rapids
Total Portages = 3702 (including half the 1580 and half the 2305

Day four - 6K Paddling. Portages 1400, 3400*
*We will stay o the 3400 portage. There are 4 sites available.. Camp on Fivemile Rapids
Total Portages = 4252 (including half of the 2305 and half of the 3400)

Day five - 8K Paddling. Portages only one 500. Camp on Smith Lake
Total Portages - 2200 (including half of the 3400)

Day six - 5K paddle out. Portages one 90

For the trip
Total paddling - 37K with the current of the river
Total portage - 11,979

deleted (sorry)

from algonquintrips.blogspot.com

Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The first instalment of the Portage Dictionary...

The Perdita Felicien: wherein the portager lurches over a seemingly innocuous fallen tree at great speed expecting to clear it with ease only to catch a lace, a pant cuff or similar on a branch. A Jesus or Earth Mother Dive may follow.

The Tonya Harding: where in order to maintain balance or momentum the portager propels lower leg forward into rock, log or both, at about shin level.

The Armadillo: wherein the clear line through the bush becomes suddenly a Car Wash, the portager curls head toward chest, tucks arms in, leans forward and stomps aggressively through obstructing branches. A move heralded by judges for its audacity in placing skin preservation ahead of the need to see where you're going.

The Birth Canal: when carrying a canoe, the portager attempts to pass between two trees separated by a distance less than the boat's beam at the midthwart. Athletes are scored based on the speed at which they perform the maneuver and the creativity applied in the process of wiggling through.

Dinglethwacking: ropes or nylon webbing connected to the canoe's front and back that allow the portager to control the canoe are called dingle straps. Holding them taught while going through a Car Wash would seem to be an excellent way of fending off bent branches, but in fact, it merely extends the branches' arc, making the results of their release that much more spectacular.

Car Wash: undergrowth along a river, either where nature is reclaiming a trail or engulfing a river tends to be strong, right to the ground. Branches grow horizontally seeking sunlight, creating a gate effect between trees similar to what you find in a drive-through carwash, but they don't so much buff as flagellate.

Jesus Dive: where losing balance or footing, the portager falls in some direction (extra points for backwards) and reaches out a limb to break the fall only for said limb to contact the pointy end of a stick. Twenty points for palm of hand. Extra points for broken skin.

Mother Earth Dive: similar to the Jesus Dive, but, hands restrained by portaging straps, the portager kisses the earth - with gusto. Ten points for each five seconds of prostration.

The Boomerang: when attempting the Car Wash or Armadillo, the portager is propelled backwards by the strength of the branches.

The Twistoff: when carrying the canoe, the portager attempts to execute a turn only to find the bow of the canoe has gone past a tree. Extra points if your head makes a sound when the canoe hits it.

From AlgonquinAventures.com

October get together September 14 2007 at 10:12 AM		Stainless from IP address 74.12.73.105
Hello everyone, This is a follow up to Tomek's plan to have a get together some weekend in October in the interior with anyone who can make it. Tomek will be kayaking solo, and some others will be canoeing solo (maybe some tandem also) The weekend will be Oct. 19-21. The lake will be Owl Lake (access at Source Lake, off of HWY 60). I have never been on this route, but it looks like the waters are somewhat protected from strong winds. The two campsites on the north shore of Owl Lake look good from the trip-log submitted by Barry Bridgeford. Of course, a campsite can accomodate up to nine people, and if we go over that the other site is very close. A daytrip into Linda Lake looks good. I hope the three portages are not too onerous. Anyways, I hope this is O.K. for most of those interested in a late season interior trip. Who wants to meet up? Stainless

Click for a larger view

Crotch Lake 2007

Algonquin Park Map

This is a pdf of the park. It is from the 1994 version so beware of changes (did they move the lakes?)
They DID change some of the roads. (eg. Shall Lake access)

http://lphys.chem.utoronto.ca/~cmilne/alg2.pdf

Algonquin Plaque

Click picture for a larger view

Algonquin Park selected Canada's 2nd Most Priceless National Park

from Algonquin Park Web Log by Toddles

With summer giving us a chance to sleep in the great outdoors, the Most Priceless National Park contest (which surveyed over 2006 Canadians identified Alberta's Banff first (19%), followed closely by Ontario's Algonquin Park second (15%) and Alberta's Jasper third (7%). Interestingly, Algonquin Park is a provincial park - though its beauty and popularity are regularly recognized at the national level.

Park Pic of the Day

Thats me - Five days in - on the Oxtongue.

New Blog

Visit my new Blog all about a 1970 vacation that my family took to California!
http://yates1970.blogspot.com/

Canoeing duo rewarded with medals of bravery

Author: Mary Riley

Hans McKee had “a really bad feeling” as he and his friends watched two canoeists head out onto Algonquin Park’s largest lake on May 17, 2004.
“I’ve never canoed Lake Opeongo because it’s so big and dangerous when the weather is bad,” the paramedic said on Thursday from his Omemee home.
“I take the water taxi.”
He recalled the weather was bad on the lake that day, with two-metre high waves, high winds and whitecaps.
“We saw them come out of a portage area and start out on the lake.”
Mr. McKee, who works with Peterborough County EMS, said he and a group of friends have gone to Alqonquin Park on an annual camping/fishing trip for years.
The 2004 group included his friend, Northumberland County EMS paramedic Robert Miller, who lives in Fraserville.
The two men will receive the Governor General’s Award for bravery in Ottawa on Friday for their actions that day.
“It was the end of our trip that year; most of the guys had already left to go home,” he said.
“There were about four of us left.
“The couple was university students; they came out of the portage area, and as they started (on the lake) they weren’t wearing life jackets. We yelled at them to put them on and they did.”
Mr. McKee said the couple’s gear was stowed properly in their canoe, and he later learned they were experienced canoeists.
Still, he said he couldn’t believe they were attempting to cross Opeongo in the prevailing winds and high waves.
“We saw them canoe around the point. We could see them bobbing in the waves. And then, they disappeared. The next thing we knew, one of our guys was yelling, ‘They’re in, they’re in.’ The canoe was completely submerged and the man was hanging onto one end and the girl on the other.”
Mr. McKee said he and Mr. Miller knew the water was dangerously cold and that without help, the couple’s chances of surviving were slim to none.
“We weren’t sure if we could attempt a rescue in those conditions. But, we had four guys in camp. Two of us were experienced and two were not. So, we went. But, I was pretty nervous.”
The two men launched their own canoe and headed into the waves to rescue the couple.
“We were all right heading toward them,” Mr. McKee said.
“But, I was really worried about how we were going to turn around to bring them back. I said a few prayers, for sure.”
He said when he and Mr. Miller reached the pair, the young man asked, “Should we apologize now or later?”
The two paramedics told them to save their breath and strength; there would be time for apologies “when we get back to shore.”
Throwing a rope to the man, Mr. McKee tied it around his own waist. After waiting for a break in the waves, the two men managed to turn their canoe and begin towing the capsized vessel with the two victims clinging to it.
“It took us an hour to paddle back to shore,” he said.
After the couple, who were feeling the effects of the cold water, were given dry clothing and something hot to drink, Mr. McKee said he asked why they tried to cross the huge lake in such weather.
“They said it was the last day of their trip and they had to go home,” he said. “But, they had about a 12-mile paddle ahead.”
Mr. McKee said he didn’t feel his actions merited an award.
“The RCMP investigate these things and they nominate for the awards,” he said.
“They called and asked me about it before. I put it off for about a year because I didn’t think it was all that special. Other people have done much [braver] things.”
But, the RCMP persisted, and Mr. McKee agreed to accept the award.
He said about a year ago, he called the couple, who live in the Kingston area, to say hello.
“There’s a nice sidebar to the story,” he said.
“While they were in the water that day, they proposed to each other. They said they would get married if they survived. And they did.”

This Week was unable to reach Mr. Miller for his comments.

http://www.mykawartha.com/article/10583

Flickr Algonquin Group

Here is a gerat MAP that has lots of Algonquin pics attached!

Algonquin Adventures Photo Contest Winner!

1st Place Winner - "The Other Side" ... by Diana McElroy ... taken on Nov. 10, 2006, beside the abandoned railway trackbed near the end of the Booth's Rock Trail, looking away from Rock Lake. The contrast between the gold of the grass and the blue of the sky and water caught my eye. The reflection enhanced the depth and colour of the sky. It was taken with a Canon Powershot SD450.

Algonquin Adventures

Park Pic of the Day

Moose on the loose on Welcome Lake beach!

Big Pork Slideshow